Euphorbia plant named &#39;Floreupred&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia  plant named ‘Floreupred’, characterized by its dark green-colored foliage that turns dark burgundy with increased sun exposure, moderate growth vigor, and well-branched, compact growth habit, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Euphorbia hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Floreupred’

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/998,032 filed Jun. 16, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant botanically known as Euphorbia hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Floreupred’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Quedlinburg, Germany during June 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of dark-leaved, more compact, and well-branched Euphorbia.

The new Euphorbia cultivar is the result of open-pollination within an insect-cage environment. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is a Euphorbia amygdaloides selection coded 3810-5, not patented, characterized by its light green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is an unknown Euphorbia, not patented. Species plants included in the cage environment include but are not limited to E. baselicis, E. cyparissias, E. amygdaloides, E. myrsinites, E. dulcis, E. nicaeensis, E. walichii, and E. hypericifolia. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during May 2009 in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2009 in Quedlinburg, Germany and Elburn, Illinois has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Floreupred’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant:

1. Dark green-colored foliage that turns dark burgundy with increased sun exposure;

2. Moderate growth vigor; and

3. Well-branched, compact growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in foliage color and in having a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Euphorbia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Ruby Glow ‘Waleuphglo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,200. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Waleuphglo’ in at least the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have leaves in alternate arrangement unlike plants of ‘Waleuphglo’;

2. Plants of the new cultivar have a longer internode length than plants of ‘Waleuphglo’;

3. Plants of the new cultivar have ovate-shaped cyathophylls unlike plants of ‘Waleuphglo’; and

4. Plants of the new cultivar has a foliage color different from plants of ‘Waleuphglo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Floreupred’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 30 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were pinched once prior to transplant in the gallon containers. Approximately 4 weeks after transplant, plants were cut to 8 inches above the soil level.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth of ‘Floreupred’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Floreupred’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual cyathium of ‘Floreupred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. The plants were grown for 30 weeks in one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium and were pinched once prior to transplant. Approximately 4 weeks after transplant, plants were cut to 8 inches above the soil level. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 55° F. (7° C. to 13° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (2° C. to 7° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia hybrid cultivar Floreupred. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A Euphorbia amygdaloides selection coded             3810-5, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Euphorbia, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 15 to 18 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 58.0 cm. Width: Approximately 70.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, divergent, pinching             enhances branching. Quantity of branches per plant:             Approximately 100.         -   Branch.—Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             48.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Sparsely             pubescent. Color of young stems: 146D. Color of mature             stems: 146D with a heavy overlay of 187A, overlay darkens             with sun exposure. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 20, with a whorl of 5 leaves at base of             terminal inflorescence. Fragrance: None detected. Form:             Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves (stem).—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem.             Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface of             young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: Closest to 191A, venation             indistinguishable from lamina or faintly colored 187D,             midvein of 145D with a faint overlay of 187D. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: N137A with an overlay of 187A,             overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation             indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: 191A with an overlay of             187B, venation indistinguishable from lamina or faintly             colored 187B, midvein of 187C.         -   Leaves (at inflorescence base).—Aspect: Primarily             perpendicular to stem, in a whorl of 5 leaves. Shape: Ovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Rounded, sessile.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface of             young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: Closest to 191A, venation             indistinguishable from lamina or faintly colored 187D,             midvein of 145D with a faint overlay of 187D. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: N137A with an overlay of 187A,             overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation             indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: 191A with an overlay of             187B, venation indistinguishable from lamina or faintly             colored 187B, midvein of 187C.         -   Petiole (on stem leaves only).—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately             pubescent. Color: 146C tinted with 187A when mature. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Inflorescences of ‘Floreupred’ are             ornamentally insignificant. After exposure to short days             ‘Floreupred’ blooms under outdoor growing conditions from             early to late spring.         -   Lastingness of individual cyanthium.—Approximately 20 to 30             days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Cyathia arranged in terminal and             axillary cymes, terminal cymes having 5 axes. Aspect: Facing             upward and outward. Quantity of inflorescences per plant:             Approximately 80 terminal cymes and up to 7 axillary cymes             per branch. Fragrance: None detected. Depth or height of             cyme: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width: Approximately 4.3 cm.         -   Rachis.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146C maturing to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D.         -   Cyathia.—Quantity per rachis: 3. Appearance: One pistil and             two stamens; stamens located within a tubular involucre that             surrounds the pedicel (pistil stalk); involucre has 4             petaloid nectaries at the upper rim, one pair of             cyathophylls at base of involucre. Fragrance: Not detected.             Depth: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Involucre.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color: Lighter than 145D, quickly senesces to             199D. Length of petaloid nectaries: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Width of petaloid nectaries: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color: 183A, quickly             senesces to 202A.         -   Cyathophylls.—Quantity: 2 per cyathium. Arrangement:             Opposite. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute.             Base: Rounded, sessile. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young cyathophylls: 137A             with venation of 137C. Color of lower surface of young             cyathophylls: Closest to 191A, venation indistinguishable             from lamina or faintly colored 187D, midvein of 145D. Color             of upper surface of mature cyathophylls: N137A with an             overlay of 187A, overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation             indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B at base of             cyathophylls. Color of lower surface of mature cyathophylls:             191A with an overlay of 187B, venation indistinguishable             from lamina or faintly colored 187B.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2. Length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:             154D, quickly senesces. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per cyathium, ovary supported             on a pedicel, 3 styles each 2-cleft, 6 stigmas. Pistil             length (not including pedicel): Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma width: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 183A. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style             color: 137A. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Verrucose.             Ovary color: 137A at style transitioning through 144A to             144C at pedicel end, dotted with 187C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Euphorbia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant named ‘Floreupred’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 